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9/19/10

What many people don’t know is that the annual beer-drinkers’ month of holy observance known as Oktoberfest actually starts in September. On Sunday September 26 from 2:00-6:00PM, Discover Detroit Dining is hosting an “Oktoberfest A2 Brew Tour,” visiting our favorite Ann Arbor breweries and sampling generous portions of their seasonal beers as well as tasty beer-friendly treats to soak it all up with. We’ll also get to chat with some of the key people involved in the brewing process, so home-brew warriors bring your notepads!

We’ll start at Grizzly Peak Brewing Company, a warm and inviting traditional-style pub with an upscale menu filled with hearty, delicious dishes. Here we’ll have Mini Grizz Burgers, Crispy Polenta Fries with housemade ketchup, and BBQ Baby Back Ribs with Porter-BBQ sauce (cut into 2-bone pieces). We’ll also try brewmaster Duncan Williams’s seasonal specialties as well as some of his classics, such as the nitrogen-dispensed County Cork’s Irish Stout that will make you forget the name “Guinness.”

***While we’re there also be sure to check out the new mural “Reveal” painted on the back of the building by Detroit’s own Antonio “Shades” Agee, one of the largest murals ever painted in downtown Ann Arbor commissioned by the Northern United Brewing Company which produces and bottles beer in collaboration with Grizzly Peak and Jolly Pumpkin.

We’ll then head over to Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery, the kind of place where old-fashioned Southern hospitality meets high-falutin’ Yankee aesthetics with Southern-inspired barbecue dishes fit for a gourmand and a whole lot of glossy retro nostalgia. You can get cans of Blatz and Schlitz, but do try some of their own craft brews, like the Bearded Pig Pilsner which pairs well with all that pork. On the menu for our group is the BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders, Chipotle Buffalo Chicken Wings, Artichoke Dip with Swiss cheese and tortilla chips, and Green Chile Cheddar Corn Muffins. That there gets a “Yee-haw!”

Our last stop will take us to one of the most unique brewpubs in Michigan: Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery. The atmosphere is fun (as you’d probably expect a place called the “Jolly Pumpkin” to be), with walls covered in poster-sized prints of their artistic and whimsical beer labels and a mammoth rooftop deck that is ideal in the summer. They are fiercely committed to promoting environmental sustainability by supporting local farms and businesses, using seasonal organic produce, fish that is not overfarmed, and providing plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. They’re also nationally-recognized for their award-winning farmhouse ales and sours. We’ll get to sample some of Executive Chef Maggie Long’s assorted hearth-baked pizzas with sourdough crust; three spreads with flatbread - hummus, edamame & red pepper walnut; and the Gardener's Snack Board with artisan cheeses, roasted & marinated vegetables, and breads; just be sure to save room for some of that singularly eclectic beer!

Join us as we discover three fantastic Ann Arbor breweries with sophisticated food and exceptional beer! Tickets are $50 per person and includes all tax and gratuity, the guided walking tour, food, and eight (8) 6-oz. beer samples redeemable at your leisure.

The fine print: beer tickets are only redeemable for beers on draught. Any additional beer, wine, or spirits consumed will be billed individually. At Discover Detroit Dining we wish to promote the safety of our guests and so are also offering a food-only option for $30.